Fund cuts for public television lead to mergers; is there life after PBS?

WASHINGTON – Coping with reduced funding by state governments and other sources, public television stations are pursuing diverse options ranging from mergers and consolidation to dropping PBS network programs. As reported in early July, funding cuts led to the demise of the New Jersey Network of PBS stations, which were merged into New York's WNET. The station had earlier acquired WLIW on Long Island, so currently, WNET controls PBS programming on stations well to the east and south of New York City. New York is not unique: San Francisco's public television station, KQED, acquired KTEH, serving San Jose and the……Continue Reading Fund cuts for public television lead to mergers; is there life after PBS?

Over There With George M. Cohan

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif.–This prosperous enclave on the cliff overlooking Santa Monica Bay has many virtues, and one of the big ones is a great hometown Fourth of July parade. For more than three hours, folks sit on the curbs or on lawn chairs and watch America go by. Bands and Boy Scouts, firemen and bagpipers, veterans from half a dozen wars, politicians, beginning with the mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, and more flags than you can count, most of them probably made in China. There was even a young man walking the streets passing out "Muslims for Peace" brochures…….Continue Reading Over There With George M. Cohan

Suro in Maynard – Immigration

Faculty Fellow Roberto Suro was featured in an article on the Maynard Institute website. Speaking with USC's Dowell Myers, Suro said a battle between the federal government and the states over who would lead in enforcing immigration laws in the workplace had "finally been settled" by courts in favor of the states. The conversation in which Suro was taking part was about forging a new social contract between the aging Baby Boomer generation and immigrants to the US…….Continue Reading Suro in Maynard – Immigration

NJ Public Television Signs Off; Other PBS, NPR Stations Threatened by Cuts

WASHINGTON — While the nation celebrated the holiday weekend of independence, New Jersey's public television network signed off for the last time and many other PBS stations around the US may soon follow suit. The reason: cuts in funding from state governments across the country. As I had written about on the blog last December, NJN has finally come to the end of its broadcasting days. The final New Jersey newscast on NJN was Thursday night. At its end, viewers saw a simple sign, "New Jersey Network. April 5, 1971 – June 30, 2011." As of that night, 130 employees……Continue Reading NJ Public Television Signs Off; Other PBS, NPR Stations Threatened by Cuts